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USFL

The spirit of a Homecoming rally filled Casa Roble High School’s gymnasium on October 28, 2017, but, unlike the popularity contest for royalty, the combatants at Panda Cup, both youth mixed martial artists and adult Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioners, earned their position of king or queen for the night with their hand raised.

Kids MMA

Although several of the youth competitors weren’t old enough to sit in the Orangevale gym during the week, they were wise beyond their years in bravery: locking themselves in the ultimate sport. At the top of the Kids MMA card, two Panda Cup Titles were handed out.

David Kellogg defeated David Hernandez by way of triangle in round 2 (1:57).

Adult BJJ Super-Fights

Following a rule set similar to that of EBI (Eddie Bravo Invitational), eight Jiu-Jitsu practitioners, some draped in a Gi and others not, sought out a limb or neck for the checkmate while playing human chess. Some interesting finishes included: a loop choke, a lapel choke, and a patented guillotine from Anthony Hernandez, an undefeated MMA prospect on the rise.

With only seconds left in regulation, Austin Flowers submitted Nick Dillman using a loop choke:

Jeslen Michelle and Becca Baze set the canvas ablaze with their aggressive style, and Michelle was able to wrap Baze in a lapel choke:

Followers of Anthony Hernandez’s young MMA career have witnessed a first-round guillotine finish in four of his five fights, and the same crushing maneuver forced Toby Staley to tap:

Instead of grappling with how to spend an evening on October 28, 2017, submit to the entertainment of twenty-eight Jiu-Jitsu practitioners, both youths and adults, competing under a submission-only rule-set.

Youth BJJ

The United States Fight League (USFL) hosts numerous outlets for children to assess their abilities, int he midst of live rounds, as martial artists. On this occasion, twenty developing Jiu-Jitsu students will implement their instruction under the microscopic care of the referee and supportive cheers from onlookers.

Adult BJJ Super-Fights

Left with the decision to either tap, nap, or snap, those demonstrating ‘The Gentle Art’ will showcase its dangerous nature at Casa Robles High School, as each squeeze and escape escalates with the thoughtfulness of a blood-thirsty chess master.

Adult BJJ Super-Fights Include:

Ahmed White vs. Cody Barlette

Anthony ‘Fluffy’ Hernandez vs. Toby Staley

Roque Reyes vs. Zack Felkins

Skylar Sousa vs. Austen Hardt

Helen Michelle vs. Becca Baze

Nick Dillman vs. Austin Flowers

Goldie Hanz vs. Nick Sharp

Though the Gi is optional between combatants, the attendance of those within Northern California’s walls should be a mandate. For information about tickets, contact: Anthony Bivins—916-494-4175.

September 30, 2017—The McClellan Conference Center in Sacramento, California swelled at the seams with screaming fans throughout the latest installment of The Titans Cage (TTC), an all-amateur promotion, which oozed professionalism, from promoters to officials to fighters alike, at TTC 16.

USFL

Prior to TTC crowning champions at four weight classes, young mixed martial artists scribbled their style on the canvas under the well-managed microscope of the United States Fight League (USFL). By adhering to a strict rule-set and safety guidelines, with the third-man in the cage carefully monitoring the action, these students are able to blossom from minnows into sharks.

Zeke Martinez defeated Yasin Abdulahi by way of triangle choke in round 2.

Aaron Villa-Carlos defeated Estevan Povoor by way of unanimous decision.

Karter Crosby and Stevie Davenport was declared a draw.

Cyrus Povoor defeated Marcus James Datu by way of triangle choke in round 2

Carson Brockman defeated Dio Gutirrez by way of arm bar in round 2.

TTC 16

Main Event: Andrew Chavez vs. Kody Vogels for the vacant TTC Lightweight Title

To close TTC 16, Andrew Chavez and Kody Vogels opened everyone’s eyes inside the McClellan Conference Center to an unwavering drive to keep the zero in their loss column alive.

MMAGOLD’s Chavez, a known submission artist, painted the face of Vogels various shades of crimson red and pink with punches and darkened his legs to deep hues of purple with whipping shins. Vogels, vouching for Team Alpha Male, refused to idle in Chavez’s striking range, forcing his way inside with dynamite-infused leather; unfortunately, Chavez was able to avoid the majority of Vogels’ violent flurries.

Adam Wamsley entered the venue with TTC’s Light Heavyweight Championship slung over his shoulder with pride, yet the representative of Nor Cal Fighting Alliance competed against Bruno Casillas as if it were a grudge he couldn’t shake.

Though Casillas brought the vengeance of his gym, Valhalla ETC, Wamsley’s refined technique nullified any wild aggression and positioned him favorable: a guillotine shorty into the second round.

Little did Jason Hung know, but he was walking into his own execution at TTC 16 when challenging Andrew Richardson for the vacant TTC Bantamweight Championship.

With approximately twenty-seconds remaining in the opening round, Richardson, a cold-blooded mercenary, wrapped his arm around Hung’s neck like a noose, strangling his adversary before an audience roaring for more carnage.

For those familiar with Dim’s handiwork, the muscled-up monster from Team Alpha Male has bulldozed each of his previous three opponents with relative ease. As the Dim-heavy audience anticipated, he launched from his corner as if fired from a cannon upon the sound of the bell.

The force of Dim’s tsunami smashed against Figueroa, and Figueroa, hardened out of Nor Cal Fighting Alliance, soon transformed unrelenting waves into harmless ripples. Smelling blood in the water, Figueroa repeatedly found the mark and slowly shut the lights out on Dim with crisp strikes.

NorCal MMA Performances of the Night

Of course, all the mixed martial artists who wrapped their hands, entered TTC’s proving ground and bit down on their mouthpiece deserve praise, but several performances unhinged onlookers from their senses. NorCal MMA’s awards for Submission of the Night, Knockout of the Night, and Fight of the Night include:

Submission of the Night: Gabriel Pacheco-Dolce

KO/TKO of the Night: Carlos Figueroa

Fight of the Night: Carlos Figueroa and Josh Dim

TTC 16’s results include:

Andrew Chavez defeated Kody Vogels by way of unanimous decision.

Adam Wamsley defeated Bruno Casillas by way of guillotine in round 2 (1:05).

MMA has spent the last 20-plus years developing as a sport, but Northern California’s fight fans can witness a similar span of growth take place before their eyes inside the McClellan Conference Center at The Titans Cage (TTC) 16.

By collaborating with the United States Fight League (USFL), TTC will close September with an evening of Junior MMA, where youngsters dip their toes into combative waters, and a cast of C.A.M.O (California Amateur Mixed Martial Arts Organization) licensed amateurs, from debutants ready to sink their teeth into the game to a shark-infested finale of four title fights.

Keep up with the play-by-play and other live updates of TTC 16 by following along on Twitter or Facebook: @norcalfightmma.

The Titans Cage (TTC) cut the ribbon to their new home, the McClellan Conference Center, on April 15, 2017, but the all-amateur fight promotion provided the same level of entertainment that Northern California’s fight fans have grown accustomed to. Before TTC unveiled their recent card, TTC 15, a collection of Junior Mixed Martial Artists, competing under strict Pankration guidelines, warmed up the evening. The facility was stuffed with the high decibels of friends, family, and fans when TTC 15’s amateurs took to the stage, from the first bell to the last.

Main Event: Curtis Gomez vs. Eduardo Perez for the TTC Heavyweight Title

Curtis Gomez captured the Super Heavyweight Title at TTC 12 in April 2016. He looked to retain his belt a year later against a fresh face in the region, Eduardo Perez.

Staring Gomez down from across the cage, Perez radiated relaxation and composure. Perez’s pressure and speed was the key factor in capturing TTC’s Heavyweight belt. Prior to the bout’s conclusion, Perez finished the fight with a fatal spinning back kick, which dropped Gomez in his tracks and generated a tapout, though it initially went unseen. Wasting no time, the humongous human moved in on the neck of Gomez with the speed of a flyweight, sinking in a rear-naked choke to secure the submission victory.

Gabriel Pacheco–Dolce vs. Nick Dillman for the TTC Welterweight Title

TTC’s Welterweight strap was up for grabs between two extremely tough contenders. Pacheo-Dolce and Dillman kept it standing. In the second round, Dillman landed straight right hand that dropped Pacheco-Dolce. During a wild scramble, Pacheco-Dolce worked his magic, locking in a triangle, capturing Dillman’s arm, and securing the arm bar for the victory.

NorCal MMA’s Performances of the Night

Each mixed martial artists who wrapped their hands, entered TTC 15’s proving ground, and bit down on their mouthpiece deserves praise, but several performances unhinged the audience from their senses. NorCal MMA’s awards for Submission of the Night, Knockout of the Night, and Fight of the Night include:

Knockout of the Night: Josh Dim

Dim welcomed MMA’s debutant, Kyle Kolod, with a wild flurry that ejected everyone from their seat. Following a fifty-eight second shellacking, Dim has now logged a total of one-minute and fifty-two seconds over the course of three contests.

Submission of the Night: Zach Costa

Costa submitted Salvador Martinez with a vicious leg lock when it appeared as though Martinez would walk away with a unanimous decision win.

Fight of the Night: Matt Zonrello and Richard Taifane

Any questions about the cardio of super heavyweights were answered when Zonfrello and Taifane filled TTC’s cage with about six hundred pounds of mass. The level of punishment each corner ate and delivered, at least for gluttons of punishment, was as fulfilling as a buffet.

TTC 15 Results Include:

Eduardo Perez defeated Curtis Gomez by way of TKO in Round 3 (2:20).

David Klingsheim defeated Jordan Vazquez by way of unanimous decision.